Paczewski needs extra effort at Blue Bell to claim overall title in Junior Tour event

   Logan Paczewski of Dallas parred the first hole of a playoff Friday to capture the overall title in a Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour two-day event at Blue Bell Country Club.

   Paczewski, a Class of 2022 and one of the youngest players among the boys in the 13-to-18 overall division, added a 3-over-par 74 to his opening-round 69 over the 6,447-yard, par-71 Blue Bell layout, an Arnold Palmer design, for a 1-over 143 total that gave him the victory in the 13-to-15 division.

   Rishi Bhat of Singapore had a 1-over 72 after opening with an even-par 71 to match Paczewski’s 1-over 143 and earn top honors in the 16-to-18 division. Bhat finished strong, going 2-under the back nine.

   A playoff was required to crown the overall 13-to-18 winner and Paczewski parred the first extra hole to take the title. It was the end of a long day that included a two-hour rain delay after a quick moving storm went through Blue Bell. The Graham Company is the title sponsor of the Junior Tour.

   Matthew Lafond of Blue Bell was the runnerup in the 13-to-15 division, just two shots behind Paczewski at 3-over 145. Lafond was the only player to break par Friday with a 1-under 70 after opening with a 75.

   Ryan McCabe of Media finished third at 153 after a second-round 77. Dylan Gooneratne of Plymouth Meeting was another shot back of McCabe in fourth at 154 after posting a 78 Friday.

Jacob Sokalsky of Garnet Valley and Jack Cooley of Chadds Ford finished tied for fifth, each ending up at 157. Sokalsky had a solid 5-over 76 Friday while Cooley added a 79 to his opening-round 78.

   Alec Stern of Bryn Mawr finished seventh at 159 after a second-round 78, Jake Maddaloni of Newtown Square took eighth at 160 after an 82 and Joseph Taggart of Broomall was ninth at 162 after an 82.

   Rounding out the top 10 were Jack Fialko of Berwyn and Christopher Buysse of Paoli, both of whom finished at 164. Fialko was two shots better than his opening round with an 81 while Buysse added an 84 to his opening-round 80.

   Anthony Barr of Harleysville was the runnerup to Bhat in the 16-to-18 division. Barr was the opening-round leader with a sparkling 68, but fell back with an 81 that left him at 7-over 149.

   Alex VanScoy of Newark, Del. and Nicholas Scott of Harleysville finished tied for third at 8-over 150. VanScoy had a 77 after opening with a 73 while Scott carded a final-round 76. Episcopal Academy sophomore Jacob Zeng of Downingtown finished alone in fifth at 151 after a second-round 77.

   Norristown High junior Caleb Ryan and A.J. Adams of Malvern finished tied for sixth, each ending up at 153.  Ryan, a PIAA Class AAA qualifier last fall, added a 4-over 75 to his opening-round 78 while Adams posted a 79 Friday.

   Matthew Law of Yardley and Alec Ryden of Moorestown, N.J. finished tied for eighth at 158. Law had his second straight 79 while Ryden carded a second-round 80.

   Rounding out the top 10 at 162 were Haverford School senior Cal Buonocore of Newtown Square and Connor Kelleher of Clarks Summit. Both players improved off opening-round 83s, each posting a 79 Friday.

   Olivia Gardenhour of Waynesboro had a steady round that featured 11 pars and a birdie as she carded an 81 to capture the girls 16-to-18 division and the overall girls title at 160. Gardenhour opened with a 79 Thursday.

   Savannah Scott of Quantico, Md. was the runnerup in the 16-to-18 division at 171 as she added an 83 to her opening-round 88. Liv Juliana of Malvern finished third at 178 after shaving six shots off her opening-round 92 with an 86 Friday.

   Elaina McGarrigle of Wernersville finished fourth at 195 after a final-round 98 and Lindsey Fogarasi of Collegeville took fifth at 203 after posting a 101 Friday.

   Kayla Gutierrez of Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J. took top honors in the 13-to-15 division and was second overall among the girls at 170. Gutierrez carded an 88 Friday after opening with an 82. Madilyn Siuta of Quakertown was the runnerup at 195 after a final-round 96.

   Angelina Tolentino of Mount Laurel, N.J. held on to claim victory among the nine-holers with an 81. She opened with a 2-over 37 Thursday and came back with a 44 Friday.

Nicholas Joyce of Quakertown had the day’s best round, a 4-over 39, to claim runnerup honors, a shot behind Tolentino at 82.

   Nicholas Ciocca of Devon finished third at 83 after a solid second-round 41. Henry Stone of Kennett Square was fourth at 86 after a second-round 42, William Huntley of Lansdale was fifth at 88 after a second straight 44 and Ajeet Bagga  of Blue Bell took sixth with a 91 after improving five shots from his opening-round 48 with a 43 Friday.

   Two more players from Blue Bell, including the younger of the Baggas, Serena, finished tied for seventh at 93. Serena Bagga had a 48 Friday and was joined at 93 by Kevin Lafond, who was seven shots better than his opening-round 50 with a 43 Friday.

   Rounding out the top 10 were Rachel Joyce of the Quakertown Joyces and Samuel Cottone of Wayne, who finished tied for ninth at 106. Rachel Joyce had a 51 Friday while Cottone finished up with a 55.

   Shea Murphy of Wilmington, Del.  had four birdies in a 5-over 76 to take the top spot in the men’s 17-to-24 division with a 161 total.  Murphy had opened with an 85. Murphy’s 76 enabled him to overtake Andrew Simpson of Perkasie, who had opened with a 78 Thursday. Simpson carded an 84 Friday to finish a shot behind Murphy in second at 162.

   Former Perkiomen Valley standout Carly Dorminy of Collegeville won the women’s 17-to-24 division, adding an 85 to her opening-round 82 for a 167 total.